Commodities Focus

Platts US petrochemicals editors Christopher Ferrell and Pavel Pavlov examine why domestically produced PVC is experiencing rising demand and prices in the US while global markets have more subdued trading activity, in part due to a cold winter, a stronger US dollar, and turbulence in other...

Ahead of Platts' European Power Summit in Berlin on 28-29 April, 2014, Henry Edwardes-Evans spoke to Angela Knight, Chief Executive of trade association Energy UK, about regulator Ofgem's wholesale power market reforms, the government's proposed capacity mechanism and how market dynamics will fare...

Platts US petrochemicals editors Jeremy Rakes and Chris Ferrell examine the effects that this year's harsh winter weather has had on the logistical side of the US petrochemical business, including an impact on propane prices, barge traffic issues, and delays impacting polymer buyers. We welcome...

The Arctic chill is the third wave from the north to push temperatures below frigid in heavy natural gas buying markets such as Chicago, Boston, and New York. Platts editors Valarie Jackson,Chris Tremulis, Rodney White and Patrick Badgely discuss the action in the futures, cash, and forward markets...

Platts editors Andrew Moore and Valarie Jackson discuss the impact of the recent cold weather on US coal stockpiles and the effect of natural gas price volatility on coal as the dominant fuel for electricity generation. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

The NYMEX gas futures market sees cold next week and next-day cash prices retreat only a bit, despite warmer temperatures this week. Plus, a steel company found an unusual way to hedge its gas costs – pair up with a driller. Platts editors Valarie Jackson,Chris Tremulis, and Rodney White...

Platts natural gas editors Letitia Vasquez and Patrick Badgley take a step back from the price volatility the US has seen this winter and look ahead to the expectations for natural gas prices this summer. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at webeditor@platts.com.

Anna Ward and Daved Chohan, Platts petrochemical editors based in Europe, discuss the impact of the weakness in the Turkish Lira on Turkey's polymer market and the short-term recovery seen in the polypropylene market. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Platts' associate editors Jacqueline Holman and Jaime Concha discuss how recent Colombian coal supply disruptions have affected European-delivered spot prices and the repercussions on supply-demand fundamentals in 2014. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Bernardo Fallas, managing editor of the Americas, and John Calton, associate editor for aromatics, delve into the factors behind the recent surge in benzene prices on the US Gulf Coast, what the market expects in the near term, and the impact on downstream markets. We welcome any feedback or...

Ahead of Platts' annual CCS conference in Brussels February 18-19, Henry Edwardes-Evans spoke to Dr Graeme Sweeney, Chairman of the Zero Emissions Platform, on the European Commission's energy and climate goals to 2030, and the challenges facing carbon capture and storage as it seeks to secure a...

US natural gas prices -- both future and spot -- are soaring as the nation sees unusual winter cold. Platts' Bentek unit sees at least 700 Bcf more gas coming out of storage by mid-February, worrying some analysts about end-of-winter levels. Gas Daily editors Rodney White and Bill Holland...

Platts petrochemicals editors, Miguel Cambeiro and Antonios Panagiotopoulos, talk to Stephen Bowers, Global Projects, Advanced Intermediates - Performance Intermediates, Evonik, on the challenges and risks facing the European crude C4 market. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics....

Platts natural gas editors Letitia Vasquez and T.L. Hamilton discuss the record highs reached in Northeast daily and forward natural gas prices brought on by the polar vortex when heating demand was way up. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at webeditor@platts.com.

Global petrochemical producer Ineos has seen its profit from European assets halve while those from the US have tripled in the last three years. Tom Crotty, group director, talks to Platts' Nandita Lal and Hetain Mistry about the European petrochemical industry's dismal performance, shale gas in...

Beatrice Bedeschi, associate editor for European gas and power, discusses recent regulatory developments in the Italian markets and price trends at the start of 2014. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at webeditor@platts.com.

Platts petrochemicals editor, Antonios Panagiotopoulos talks to Stephen Bowers, Global Projects, Advanced Intermediates - Performance Intermediates, Evonik, on the challenges and risks facing the European MTBE and gasoline markets. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics. Contact us at...

Polar vortex cold ignites cash gas market in New York and New England, futures stay quiet. Natural gas price predictions for 2014 and how did the analysts do in 2013? Platts editors Bill Holland, Valarie Jackson, and Chris Tremulis report. We welcome any feedback or suggestions for topics....